He didn’t pick up on the bitter note in my voice, and I was thankful for that. Maybe I should slow down a little, I didn’t want to get so far gone that I completely lost myself and said things I’d regret.
I caught Logan’s eye, and he raised a brow at how quickly I’d drunk my beer. Or possibly he’d heard the tone of my voice and knew something was up, but he didn’t say a word, just refilled my glass and set it back in front of me.
“You want some food with that?” he asked.
“Um, maybe later?” I wasn’t hungry in the least, but I might be later. Did people get the munchies when they drank? Or was that just with weed?
“All right, just let me know.” Logan moved off to help another customer.
My gaze was drawn down the bar to where Lea was leaning on the wooden countertop, talking with an attractive man in front of him. His fingers were toying with a napkin near the man’s hand, and behind the bar, his back was arched, his ass sticking out, his ankles crossed.
He was very obviously flirting, and a rush of envy flooded my system as an acidic taste filled my mouth.
It wasn’t any of my business.
I quickly turned around, trying to erase the image of himlike that from my mind. I wanted to tell myself that this sickening churning in my gut wasn’t jealousy, but I couldn’t.
I had no right to be jealous. Lea wasn’t mine. Lea would never be mine, and he could do whatever he wanted.
Damn it, but I desperately wanted it to be me. I really did. And the intensity of that want had me chugging my drink so fast I choked.
“Hey, whoa, slow down, Beau.” Shea tried to take the glass from me, and I glared at him. His hand paused mid-reach, and he seemed completely taken aback. “What’s going on with you?”
The room began to rock gently. “Nothing,” I muttered. “Just enjoying myself. Isn’t that what you wanted?” I thought maybe I was slurring my words, but I wasn’t sure.
Shea set his beer down and frowned. “No. It isn’t.” He got up, and I blearily watched as two of him walked away.
Where was he going? Was he mad? Well, fine, I could?—
He was heading right for Lea. What the hell? Why? Could I do nothing without him constantly treating me like a little kid? What was he even going to say to Lea? A wave of resentment hit me, and pushed off the bar to stand up.
I didn’t want to be here anymore.
“Well hey there, honey, you look like you could use some company,” a soft, smoky voice purred in my ear.
I turned to find a woman smiling at me. She was really pretty, with long brown hair that flowed to her chest in delicate waves and light blue eyes that reminded me of a Husky’s eyes. Witchy eyes. They were mesmerizing.
“Hey,” I said back, grabbing the stool with one hand to steady myself.
Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “Can I get you a drink? I’m Kat, by the way.” A hand adorned with all kinds of rings appeared in front of me, and I shook it out of habit.
“Beau,” I said. She turned into two people all of a sudden, and her smile became a little demonic. I blinked and rolled my eyes, trying to steady my vision.
She was still holding onto my hand, and tugged me back to the stools. “Beau. I love it. Here, sit with me, Beau. What’re you drinking?”
I stumbled back onto the stool I’d previously occupied as she gracefully sat next to me. The room was kind of spinning, or it felt far away, or I felt like I was stuck in a concrete mixer because things were moving and I wasn’t sure if it was me or?—
“You good, Beau?”
I scrunched my brows together, squinted, and found Logan right across from me. I smiled. “Yeah. ’Course.”
He glanced to his left and did some kind of signal with his hand.
I followed his line of sight, and my heart began to race when I saw Lea. He was watching me, but he wasn’t smiling. He looked a little angry, actually. Why? What happened?
No, I needed to forget about Lea.
“Two IPAs, please.”